Great, thank for adding and clarifying. I think you are 100% right. The question is how do we get past our presuppositions.

Janice,

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I will have to check that book out.

Jonathan,

I am not the one who stirs but merely the stick (literally and figuratively) used to do the stirring.

It wasn’t that I felt that only one side was being presented here but more over that the responses seemed to have a tone of, gee, I hope someone comes along that has the wrong view so we can have a conversation to show them how they are wrong.

In a recent post on Storytelling (http://www.corycenter.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=40476&articleId=5904), @mattguevara, referenced a Bethel Seminary article by Jason Li in which he talks about 2 approaches to a conflict: the intent to protect or the intent to learn.

If our intent is truly to dialog (and Sam, I have never doubted yours) then we must approach both egalitarian and complementarian views with an intent to understand what they are saying and why they understand the way they do. If we seek this understanding as fuel to be able to back our own beliefs, then we have fallen prey to the intent to protect (our own view) and have turned off a chance to learn.

So in the end, it’s not a failure of the other side to be presented, but to many people that seemed to have an “intent to protect” approach to the subject.

Thanks for your thoughts. Orange was great. I pray God uses you in a powerful way on the mission field.

Kendra,

Thanks for adding to the conversation the importance of being who God has called you to be. That is so important.

Jesse,

I don’t think there is a lack of dissent because of fear of what others think. I personal welcome opposing viewpoint because it helps us think through issues not respond emotionally.

My take on why most people agree on this post is that most of my readers are kids pastors. In children’s ministry you either are a woman or work very closely with many other women. That is just the way it is. If I had a broader audience of Senior Pastors, Administrators, Teaching Pastors and elders I think you would see the other side more.

Feel free to say what you think.

Thanks for not lurking and putting your thoughts out there.

My fear is that this is not a conversation. What is happening as I read these replies is people are rallying around a cry of women in pastoral roles that (rightly or wrongly) they feel is right, then, under the guise of “having a conversation” are ready to pounce on any complementarian that happens by.
I fear that some that have responded have been so hurt by abusive leadership that they are unwilling to attempt to understand (understanding does not imply agreement with) what the other side believes.

That being said, I am getting preparing to enter the mission field and live in a culture where women are devalued. My prayer is this: to share with women that our value, abilities and callings come from God and not in the recognition we do or do not recieve.

I am so very sorry that you have felt such opposition to leadership gift due to your gender. Do not give up. God has called you we need more women to bravely join the conversation so we can get rid of the stained glass ceilings where they exist. Keep doing the amazing work of speaking into a generation of small leaders.

One thing that helps me when I struggle with things is to realize that the approval, and accolades of man pale in comparison to hearing the applause of heaven for a job well done.

Thanks for your friendship and for your voice in kids ministry. You are an amazing leader I appreciate your insight, clarity of thought and passion for families. I know God has amazing things in store for you.